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Recommended features for users who are deaf or hard of hearing
This is a list of features which may help you use your phone if you are deaf or hard of hearing. These features are available on many BT and non-BT products.
2-way record
If you sometimes find it difficult to hear everything that is being said on the phone, some answer machines let you record your conversation. This means you can play it back afterwards to make sure you don't miss anything important.
Amplify Button
Some of our phones include a separate Amplify Button which lets you increase the volume to help you hear the person you are speaking to more clearly, this is known as an Incoming Speech Amplifier. Usually you will have to press the Amplify Button to change the volume each time you make a new phone call but some phones can remember your chosen setting and use it each time you make a call.
If you regularly call someone who is deaf or hard of hearing you might want to look for a phone that also has outgoing speech amplification so that you can increase the volume of your voice to help them hear you better.
Base Unit Ring - Volume Control
Some of our cordless phones have a separate ringer volume control on the base unit of the phone. This means that when the phone rings you will be able to hear both the base unit and the handset ringing at the same time.
Base Unit Ring Tone Control
Some of our cordless phones include a base unit ring tone control which will give you a choice of at least 3 different sounds.
Caller Display
If you sometimes find it difficult to hear people you don't know on the phone, you may find Caller Display useful. Caller Display will let you check the number of the person who is calling before you answer the phone, if you don't recognise the number you may choose not to answer the phone.
Call indicator light
Some of our phones have a small built in light which flashes when the phone rings This may be helpful if you sometimes have difficulty hearing the phone ring.
Hands-free
Some people who are deaf or hard of hearing find it difficult to use the phone with the Inductive Coupler on their hearing aid. People with digital hearing aids often have similar problems. In this case it may be worth trying to use a phone with hands-free operation. This means that instead of listening through the earpiece of your phone you will hear the voice of the person you are speaking to coming through a loudspeaker on the phone base. Some phones also include a volume control for the loudspeaker. There is no need to use the T setting of your hearing aid if you are using the phone hands-free although you may still need to adjust the volume.
Headsets
If you are deaf or hard of hearing you may find a headset useful for cutting out background noise. We may be able to supply a headset free of charge to deaf or hard of hearing customers who rent our Converse 1200 or 1300 phones.
Hearing Aid Friendly
Hearing aid friendly means that the phone inludes an Inductive coupler. Inductive couplers are built into to most BT phones to help people using Analogue hearing aids to hear better on the phone by reducing or cutting out background noise. It is usually a good idea to ask the person who supplies your hearing aid for advice on this. Most hearing aids with a 'T' setting will work with an inductive coupler.
Hearing Aid Compatible
Some of our digital cordless phones include inductive couplers, but testing has shown that they are often unsuitable for use with Analogue hearing aids as together they produce a buzzing noise. Digital cordless phones may work with digital hearing aids but it is usually a good idea to ask the person who supplies your hearing aid for advice on this.
Incoming / Outgoing Speech Amplifier
Some of our phones include a separate Amplify Button which lets you increase the volume to help you hear the person you are speaking to more clearly, this is known as an Incoming Speech Amplifier. Usually you will have to press the Amplify Button to change the volume each time you make a new phone call, but some phones can remember your chosen setting and use it each time you make a call. If you regularly call someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, you might want to look for a phone that also has outgoing speech amplification so that you can increase the volume of your voice to help them hear you better.
Inductive couplers
An Inductive coupler is built into most BT phones to help people using Analogue hearing aids to hear better on the phone by reducing or cutting out background noise. It is usually a good idea to ask the person who supplies your hearing aid for advice on this. Most hearing aids with a 'T' setting will work with an inductive coupler.
Loudspeaker Volume Control
If you are having difficulty hearing the person you are speaking to when you are using your phone hands-free, or listening to a message through the loudspeaker on an answer machine, this control will allow you to turn up the volume of their voice.
New Message Indicator
Some phones include a new message indicator, a small light which flashes on and off to let you know that you have a new message if you use an answering service like BT Call Minder or 1571. This feature is also found on some answer machines.
Private Playback
The private playback button on answer machines lets you listen to the message via the phone handset. If you are deaf or hard of hearing this may be easier than listening to the message on the loudspeaker.
Ringer Tone Control
Most of our phones give you a choice of at least 3 different sounding ring tones. This let's you choose the one you can hear the best.
Ringer Volume Control
As well as being able to change the ringer tone you can also choose how loud your phone rings with the Ringer Volume Control.
SMS/ Texting
This means you can use your phone to type and send short text messages to people who are also using phones which receive SMS.
Textphone Communication
If you cannot hear on the phone, even when you have the volume turned up, a Textphone lets you have a written conversation over the phone line.
VIP Ringer
This lets you choose a different ring tone for important callers. If you have difficulty hearing on the phone you could give the VIP ring tone to the people you need to speak to such as family and friends.
Volume Control
Some of our phones give you the choice of increasing the volume of the call to help you hear the person you are speaking to more clearly. If your phone has a hands-free button you should also be able to turn up the volume of these calls. Some of our phones also include a separate Amplify Button which means you can boost the volume even more.
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